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The Midland & Western Livestock Improvement Society held the first of its April sales in Carrick-on-Shannon last weekend, where the Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn breeds combined to bring 92 animals to sale.
Overall, the atmosphere was much improved on that witnessed at the society’s previous February and March sales, with 53 bulls and 17 females meeting trade on the day.
It was a day to remember for the father and son outfit of Joe and Cathal McCormack of the Steil Angus herd, who put forward its biggest offering of stock since its foundation over half a century ago. This production sale comprised of nine heifers and three bulls, ranging from 12 to 19 months of age.
Making the day even more special for the duo was when two of their exhibits went on to claim the male and female championships in the pre-sale show. Judged by Alan Morrison, who runs the Drummer herd in Northern Ireland, he selected Steil Navigator 324, one of the youngest bulls catalogued, as his male champion.
Sired by stock bull The Moss Kriss L128, this April 2016-born bull did one better than his last outing where he claimed the reserve overall male championship at the Aberdeen Angus national calf show. He later sold to a local breeder for €3,800, the second-highest bull price of the day.
Angus male Champion Steil Navigator with Cathal McCormack
Top of the female line was McCormacks’ October 2015-born Steil M Winnie 305. Sired by HF Rebel 53Y, who sired the €4,600 high-seller for Liss at the February sale, Winnie stands as one of the first females in Europe to be offered for sale from this upcoming sire. With Te Mania Berkley and Blackbanner X1 of Idvies in the lineage, she later sold to an undisclosed buyer for the top female price of €5,350.
Angus female champion Steil M Winnie 305 with breeder Cathal McCormack and Irish Angus president John Farrell
Steil M Winnie 298 then went on to claim the outfit’s second-best price of €4,150. Sired by The Moss Kriss, Winnie 298 is out of Steil Chubby, who also bred Steil Knockranny who is standing in the National Cattle breeding Centre. Another of The Moss Kriss’s daughters, Steil M Helene 313, met trade at €3,400.
This November 2015-born heifer is out of Keelties Helene, who was overall all-Ireland champion in 2012 as a yearling.
Steil M Molly 302, Steil M Helene 310 and Steil M Evelyn 316 hit the €3,000 mark, with all sired by previously mentioned stock bull The Moss Kriss L128.
All 12 animals carrying the Steil prefix sold on the day to average €3,225.
Sale topper
Topping trade on the day was Sean and Paul Moreton’s Sheafield Norris. This February 2016-born son of Friarstown Ideal Pete was met with a flurry of bids before the hammer finally fell at €5,600. Out of a Rossiter Eric-bred dam, he sold with five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices alongside a 2.8% calving figure.
Paul Moreton exhibiting the €5,600 top price bull Sheafield Norris
A further six bulls traded at €3,000 or more. Michael Horan, Ballina, achieved €3,650 for his bull Coolcran Nero. Sired by homebred Coolcran Leo, with Kbj Jetta and Dalrene Cruz 11f in the back-breeding, Nero carried five stars on the terminal index and three stars on the replacement.
First-prizewinning Lecarrow Nidge secured €3,400 for his breeder Patrick Murphy, Claremorris, Co Mayo. Sired by Beryl Jamey and out of a Lawsonsford Bagatelle-bred dam, he was one of five bulls to find a new home in Northern Ireland.
Another breeder from Claremorris Pat Noonan also secured €3,400 for his bull Garryedmond Martin Et.
Out of HF Rebel who also sired the female champion, Martin is an embryo transfer-born son of Friarstown Ellen Erica N269.
The reserve male champion was secured by Pat and Finbarr Cahill with Shankill Lord Haddow S928. This well-made April 2016-born calf is sired by UK imported stock bull Eastfield Black Buddy and sold for €2,500.
Reserve male champion Shankhill Lord Haddow with breeder Finbarr Cahill and Mac Crowe, Irish Aberdeen Angus Association.
The reserve female championship in the pre-sale show was awarded to Patrick Killoran with Flowerhill Nicie.
Sired by Lissduff Dandy with Coneyisland Legend and DMM Distinction 17g also in the lineage, this young heifer failed to meet her reserve on the day.
Reserve female champion Flowerhill Nicie exhibited by Sandra Killoran
The second-top female price was realised by Patrick Harrison, for his almost two-year-old heifer Brideswell Magic. Sired by all-Ireland champion Ballyshannon Eric, this stylish first-prizewinner set a good start to the female entries when she sold for €4,250.
Forty-seven Angus bulls sold to average €2,636, which represented an 83% clearance, while the Angus females had an average of €2,755 with a 74% clearance.
Other breeds
The small entry of Hereford and Shorthorn were met with harder trade, with both breeds selling three bulls out of six. The average for Herefords levelled at €2,166, with a top of €2,600 for the day’s champion Shroidpoll 1 Connolly from Michael Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford. The Shorthorn champion Drumboy Jacob from Margaret Kilrane realised €1,380, with the breed average at €1,320.
Hereford Chmapion Shroidpoll 1 Connolly from Michael Lynch, Paddy Farrell (Midland and Western), Alan Morrison (Judge).
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